What Gets Recorded at the Register of Deeds in NC?

If you’re buying a home in Mooresville, Huntersville, Denver, or anywhere around the Lake Norman area, your closing day is going to end with a phrase you might not expect: “You’ll get your keys once everything is recorded.”

Recorded? Most buyers picture a camera crew — not a county office. But recording at the register of deeds is actually the final step that makes your home purchase official in North Carolina. It’s what determines who legally owns the property, and it’s not something you want to leave to chance.

Real estate attorney Tiffany Webber breaks the entire process down in the video below. Her firm has closed nearly 10,000 transactions since 2020, so she’s had this conversation more than a few times.

Watch the Full Video

Keep reading for the key takeaways, or watch the full video here for Tiffany’s complete explanation.

What Is the Register of Deeds?

Think of the register of deeds as the public recordkeeper for all things real estate in your county. Whether you’re closing on a home in Davidson, Cornelius, Sherrills Ford, Troutman, or Statesville, the register of deeds office is where your transaction becomes part of the public record.

When a document is “recorded,” the register of deeds receives it, stamps it with a book and page number, and indexes it under the correct names and property description so anyone can find it through a public search.

Here’s what a lot of people don’t realize: the register of deeds does not verify that a document is legally valid. They confirm that certain formatting and notarization requirements are met, then they file it. Acceptance for recording is not a stamp of legal accuracy — which is exactly why having an experienced real estate attorney handle your closing matters.

What Documents Get Recorded at Closing?

The simple rule is: anything that affects ownership or lien priority gets recorded. For most Lake Norman area home buyers, that means:

The Deed

This is the document that transfers ownership from the seller to you. It gets recorded first — before anything else — because you have to legally own the property before a lender’s lien can attach to it.

The Deed of Trust

If you’re borrowing money to buy the home (and most people in Mooresville, Huntersville, and Denver are), the deed of trust is what secures that loan against the property. In North Carolina, we call it a deed of trust. Other states call it a mortgage — functionally, it’s the same thing. This gets recorded because it’s a lien against the property, and it needs to be public so future buyers or lenders know it exists.

Easements

If someone else has the right to use part of your property — a utility company, a neighbor’s driveway access — that easement gets recorded too. You’re not giving away ownership, but you are granting a right to use, and that affects the title going forward.

Other Documents

Depending on your situation, plats, separation agreements, free trader agreements, or prenuptial agreements affecting property interests may also need to be recorded.

Why Recording Order Matters in North Carolina

This is where it gets important for Lake Norman home buyers to pay attention. North Carolina follows what’s called a “race-notice” priority statute. In plain English: whoever gets recorded first, wins.

It doesn’t matter what date you signed the document. What matters is when it hits the register of deeds. If two lenders both have a claim on the same property, the one recorded first has priority. If an unscrupulous seller somehow contracted to sell the same property to two different buyers, the buyer whose deed is recorded first is the legal owner.

This is one of the reasons your closing team moves quickly to get documents recorded — and why you’re waiting for that confirmation before you get your keys.

What Does NOT Get Recorded?

Not everything from your closing goes to the register of deeds. Your purchase contract, inspection reports, amendments, and invoices are not recorded. Only documents that affect the title to the property going forward make it into the public record.

Why This Matters If You’re Buying Around Lake Norman

Whether you’re purchasing your first home in Huntersville, upgrading to lakefront property in Denver, closing on a new build in Mooresville, or settling into Davidson, Cornelius, Sherrills Ford, Troutman, or Statesville — the recording process is the same across North Carolina. And it’s the step that truly makes you the legal owner.

Understanding what gets recorded and why gives you confidence on closing day. No more wondering why you’re waiting for keys or what’s happening behind the scenes.

Watch Tiffany’s full video breakdown here for the complete explanation, including details on how North Carolina’s race-notice statute could affect your transaction.

Closing on a Home in the Lake Norman Area? We Can Help.

At Thomas & Webber, we’ve handled nearly 10,000 real estate closings since 2020. Our offices in Mooresville, Huntersville, and Denver serve home buyers and sellers across the entire Lake Norman region — including Davidson, Cornelius, Sherrills Ford, Troutman, and Statesville.

If you have questions about your upcoming closing or need a real estate attorney who will walk you through every step of the process, give our office a call today. We’ll make sure everything is handled correctly so you can get those keys with confidence.

Call Thomas & Webber: (704) 663-1600 →